Method of treating steel



Patented Apr.. 1, 1924.

UNETED -STATES ANTHONY J. FREI'I'AS, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

amnion or TREATING STEEL.

K Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY J. Fnnrras, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of 6 Pennsylvania, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Methods of Treating Steel of which the following is a specification.

The invention 'is designed to improve the 10 quality of steel. In accomplishing this purpose I treat the steel while in the molten state with a compound containing preferably potassium prussiate yellow, fullersearth and charcoal. The compound is preferably made up of forty parts of potassium prussiate yellow, two parts fullers-earth, and six parts charcoal, andin the treatment of most steels the, application or introduction of about two and a quarter ounds of this compound to each ton of steel gives the best results.

This material maybe introduced to the steel in the furnace, in the crucible or in the ladle, preferably in the ladle because the melting losses are thus avoided.

The addition of the material to the molten steel results in the momentary increase in temperature of the steel and changes its quality without materially changing its chemical analysis.

It apparently increases all the ordinaryphysical characteristics, such as tensile strain, elasticity, elongation and reduction of area, both in annealed and cast forgings s5 and in the quenched and drawnsteel. It also seems to vary the transformation point so that thesteel may be better annealed and thus adding to its availability for forging and machining. It also seems to permit of 46 a decrease in such ingredients as manganese and silicon without deterioration of the quality of the steel. The addition of the material seems to change the fiber structure so 'as to avoid to a lar e extent the cracking 5 durin quenching and increases the ductility and a so varies its density'so as to decrease Application filed January 12, 1921. Serial No. 436,817.

the shrinkage in casting. The steel also seems to stand a higher temperature and the quantity of scale is reduced.

The invention is particularly desirable in forming cast steel and in doing this the practice is to add the material as the steel is delivered from the furnace to the ladle.

What lclaim as new is 1. The-method of treating steel which consists in adding to the steel while in a molten state potassium prussiate, a material having aluminum as a base and carbon.

2. The methodof treating steel which consists in adding to the steel while in a molten state potassium prussiate forty parts, a material having aluminum'as a base two parts,

and carbon six parts.

3. The method of treating steel which consists inadding to the steel while in a molten state potassium prussiate forty parts, fullers-earth two parts, and charcoal six parts.

4:. The method of treating steel which consists in adding to the steel while in a molten state potassium prussiate forty parts, a material having aluminum as a base two parts, and carbon six parts in quantities. amounting to two and a quarter pounds to the ton of steel.

5. The method'of treating steel which consists in adding to the steel while in a molten ANTHONY J. FREITAS. 

